Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government will next week start administering Covid-19 vaccine to priority groups at the 550 designated health facilities across the country.
According to the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, the government targets to vaccinate 60 percent of its population on voluntary basis, but priority will be given to frontline health care workers, people with chronic diseases as well as adults 50 years and above.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Prof Abel Makubi told journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the government has started distributing the vaccines to all mainland regions, and that vaccination will kick off on August 3, this year.
The development comes after the government completed verification of the Janssen vaccine manufactured by the US based, Johnson and Johnson Company.
A total of 1,058,400 doses of the vaccine arrived in the county on Saturday, being a donation from the United States of America under the facilitation of the US Embassy to Tanzania. He said before being distributed for use, the doses went through verification exercises from the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA), Government Chemist Laboratory Authority (GCLA) and other organs to confirm safety and quality of the vaccine.
“On distributing the vaccines, the government considered a ratio of Covid-19 cases and its indications and number of priority groups against the available vaccines,” he said.
Going by the guidelines from World Health Organisation (WHO) and Covax facility, the vaccine should be issued to priority groups, such as front liners in the health sector, people above 50 years of age and those with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease.
“The vaccine will be issued on voluntary basis. But the government will ensure that the vaccine is available for those who are ready for it,” said the PS, calling for patience from those who will miss the jab in the first phase, saying they should wait for the coming slots.
Prof Makubi insisted that the vaccine will be provided for free and that no public or private facility is allowed to collect any amount from citizens who would show up for the inoculation. He also asked Tanzanians to double check whether they are in the priority groups before going to the designated centers for vaccines.
However, he explained that the number of designated centres might increase depending on the number of clients and the actual need. “They have also to make appointments before heading to the centers, the bookings start from Monday, August 2, this year,” he said, adding that those willing to take the vaccines should bring one of their identity cards, like the national identity cards, driving license, voter’s Id, passport or any other legal document.
The PS went on to explain that before getting the vaccine, people are required to fill in a form showing their willingness for the jab, and after that they will also be provided with a certificate of vaccination.
He extended the directives to all Regional and District Medical Officers (RMO and DMO’s) to ensure all arrangements for the vaccines are done for the exercise to take off on Tuesday.
In another development, Prof Makubi reiterated a call for Tanzanians to keep observing precaution measures against spread of the global pandemic as recommended by health experts.
